Fatal Car Surfing Suspect Enters Plea

SANTA BARBARA – The court-appointed attorney for Lanie Tyrone Richardson, the defendant in the fatal car surfing incident in Montecito, appeared in Santa Barbara Superior Court Thursday morning for his client’s arraignment.Rafael Amezaga, Jr. entered a “not guilty” plea to a host of charges facing his client stemming from the June 6th incident, including second degree murder and voluntary manslaughter. When questioned about a DUI-related charge, Amegaza responded, “He was never arrested with any alcohol in his system. I don’t believe any FST’s (Field Sobriety Tests) were done, no blood drawn. I’m befuddled as to that charge.”Richardson is being held on one million dollars bail – an amount Amezaga says his client has “no possibility” of being able to raise – for allegedly causing the death of 26-year-old Allison Meadows and injuring 25-year-old Lindsey Keebler while car surfing along East Valley Road. The CHP says Richardson was behind the wheel of the vehicle involved.”This is not a case that merits criminal prosecution,” said Amezaga. “It was a tragic accident involving young people who made very poor decisions.” The prelim setting will be held July 12th in Santa Barbara Superior Court.